Relentless Waugh passes Bradman and Gavaskar

Australia 605-9 dec v West Indies 89

Steve Waugh, Australia's relentless captain, took advantage of pathetic opposition and a lifeless pitch on the second day of the third Test to add a few more milestones to the many he has established in his lengthy career.

His 113 in Australia's mammoth 605 for 9 declared was his 30th hundred in his 159 Tests, carrying him past the legendary Don Bradman as the most by an Australian. It was a measure of Bradman's dominance of the game that he compiled his in 52 Tests in a career between 1929 and 1948.

When Waugh was 58, he went past India's Sunil Gavaskar's 10,122 runs as Test cricket's second highest scorer. Now only the 11,174 by his fellow Australian Allan Border, one of the 8,000 spectators at Kensington Oval, rates above his 10,152.

The West Indies made an confident start to their reply as the left-handed openers Chris Gayle, 47, and Devon Smith, 34, batted through to close at 89 without loss.

Waugh was was seldom dominant in five and a quarter hours of grind, counting eight fours in spite of an attack comprising two bowlers in their first Tests and two others with nine Tests between them. He offered unaccepted chances at 11, to Ramnaresh Sarwan at short mid-wicket off the persevering Vasbert Drakes, at 57, also to Sarwan, on the midwicket boundary off the new 20-year-old off-spinner Omari Banks and at 85 to wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh off fast bowler Jermaine Lawson. Waugh shared partnerships of 113 with Adam Gilchrist, who made 65, and 124 with Andy Bichel whose run-a-ball 71 was his highest Test score.